User interface system and method for a gaming machine

ABSTRACT

An embedded additional user interface is equipped-with a touch screen and audio device to operate as a user interface (UI) terminal to provide a gaming machine with the capability of executing applications from one or more web servers, and local applications executing in the gaming machine, simultaneously. The UI comprises a touch controlled web-browser rendering information from the local gaming machine, and interconnected web servers, providing the user with game data, local player session data, and back-end casino management data in a single interface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/943,771 filed Sept. 16, 2004, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a gaming system that incorporates anadditional user interface, and more particularly, to a system andmethodology that integrates an embedded additional user interface havingan animation capable display screen into a gaming machine.

2. Background of the Invention

Traditionally, gaming machines have been designed for gaming purposesonly. In this regard, gaming machines have been constructed only toinclude gaming functionality. Recently, however, casino owners havebecome aware that by adding additional features to gaming machines, theymay be able to maintain a player's attention to the gaming machines forlonger periods of time. This, in turn, leads to the player wagering atthe gaming machine for longer periods of time, thereby increasing casinoprofits.

One technique that has been employed to maintain a player's attention atthe gaming machine has been to provide players with access togambling-related information. By attaching a small electronic display tothe gaming device, gambling-related information, as well as news andadvertisements can be sent to the player. The gambling-relatedinformation may include, for example, information on sports betting andbetting options for those sporting events. Additionally, thegambling-related information may also include information such as horseracing and off-track betting. News and advertisements can also maintaina player's attention by providing the player with access to informationranging from show times, to restaurant and hotel specials, and to worldevents, thus reducing the need and/or desire for the player to leave thegaming machine.

Moreover, it would be desirable to provide the player with interactiveaccess to the above information. This type of interactivity would allowplayers significantly more flexibility to make use of theabove-described information. The gambling-related information could alsobe utilized by the player in a much more efficient manner. In thisregard, greater levels of flexibility and access are likely to make aplayer remain and gamble at the gaming machine for significantly longerperiods of time. Unfortunately, the system components that are currentlyutilized for displaying and accessing this type of information, such asexternal keypads and display modules, are extremely limited in thefunctionality and capabilities that they provide, thus limiting thebreath and quality of information available to maintain the player'sattention and keep him engaged at the game for longer periods of time.

As stated above, attempts to distribute gambling-related information,advertisements and news of general interest to players, has typicallyrequired additional system components to be attached to the gamingdevices separately and apart from the construction of the gaming machineitself. Such components have generally included a keypad, card reader,and display equipment, such as a 2-line LED display. Specifically, thesecomponents for accessing and displaying information from gaming machineshave been extremely limited in their usefulness because of the lack ofcapabilities inherent in these components. In addition there isnecessarily a limited space available in a gaming machine into whichthese components can be mounted. This serves to further limit theireffectiveness. It would be desirable for new components capable ofhandling this expanded information transfer to be integrated into thegaming device itself. This would provide for a shareable mechanism withsubstantially greater functionality and extensibility than that whichhas been previously available.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art have long recognized the need fora system that is capable of integrating expanded service and systemscapabilities with the more traditional function of a gaming device. Theclaimed invention clearly addresses these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, and in general terms, the claimed invention resolves the aboveand other problems by providing an embedded additional user interfacefor use in a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine includes agaming screen and a gaming processor. More particularly, the embeddedadditional user interface includes a web content capable display screenand an embedded processor. Preferably, the web content capable displayscreen presents web information to a user via the display screen. Theembedded processor preferably utilizes an internal operating system andcommunicates with the gaming processor. Preferably, the embeddedprocessor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web protocol(web authoring language), if necessary, and maps the data to the webcontent capable display screen. In this manner, the web content capabledisplay screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gamingexperience.

In accordance with another aspect of a preferred embodiment, theincoming data received by the embedded additional user interface are I²Cmessages (or other serial communications). Preferably, the embeddedprocessor communicates with the gaming processor, and/or other connecteddevices, over an I²C bus (or other serial communications bus). The webcontent capable display screen of the embedded additional user interfaceis preferably a color graphic touch screen display. Preferably, theembedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor. Further, the internaloperating system of an embedded additional user interface is preferablycustomized to match the specific hardware to which the internaloperating system attaches.

In accordance with another aspect of a preferred embodiment, theembedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology. In one preferredembodiment, a certification process is offered for authentication andnon-repudiation of the web content. Preferably, the certificationprocess provides audit-ability and traceability. Specifically, thecertification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulatorsto allow casino operators to design their own content.

In accordance with another aspect of a preferred embodiment, HTML is theweb protocol into which the incoming data is translated in the embeddedadditional user interface. In another preferred embodiment, DHTML is theweb protocol into which the incoming data is translated in the embeddedadditional user interface. In still another preferred embodiment, XML isthe web protocol into which the incoming data is translated in theembedded additional user interface. In yet another preferred embodiment,MACROMEDIA FLASH animation technology is the web protocol into which theincoming data is translated in the embedded additional user interface.In one preferred embodiment, the embedded additional user interfaceconnects to an Ethernet-networked backbone. Further, in one preferredembodiment, the embedded additional user interface connects to a webserver through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

In another preferred embodiment, the embedded additional user interfaceincludes an animation capable display screen and an embedded processor.In yet another preferred embodiment, the embedded additional userinterface includes a web page display screen and an embedded processor.In still another preferred embodiment, the embedded additional userinterface includes a multimedia display screen and an embeddedprocessor.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the claimed inventionis directed towards an embedded additional user interface that isincorporated into a gaming machine that includes a separate gamingscreen (or gaming region, e.g., spinning reels). The embedded additionaluser interface includes a web content capable display screen and anembedded processor. Preferably, the web content capable display screenpresents web information to a user via the display screen. The embeddedprocessor preferably utilizes an internal operating system. The embeddedprocessor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web protocol(web authoring language), if necessary, and maps the data to the webcontent capable display screen. Furthermore, in this embodiment theembedded processor additionally includes standard gaming processorfunctionality.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the claimed inventionis directed towards a gaming machine that includes an embeddedadditional user interface having a web page display screen. Preferably,the gaming machine includes a gaming display screen, a gaming processor,and an embedded additional user interface. The embedded additional userinterface further includes the same web page display screen and anembedded processor that has been described above.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the claimed inventionis directed towards a method for increasing user excitement relating toa gaming machine by providing a richer gaming experience via an embeddedadditional user interface that is incorporated into the gaming machine.Preferably, the embedded additional user interface includes an embeddedprocessor and a web page display screen. The method preferably includes:receiving a serial data message containing enhanced player informationover a serial communication bus (e.g., an I²C bus) in the embeddedadditional user interface; translating the data message into a webauthoring language, if necessary; and mapping the data message to theweb page display screen, wherein the display screen presents web pageinformation to a user via the display screen.

In one embodiment, the web content is protected by digital signatureverification using DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) or RSA(Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) cryptographic technology. In this regard, thecontent is preferably protected using digital signature verification sothat any unauthorized changes are easily identifiable. Of course, othersuitable protection techniques may also be used in other embodiments.

Still further, one preferred embodiment utilizes a MessageAuthentication Code (MAC), which may be used to verify both the contentintegrity and the authenticity of a message. A Message AuthenticationCode can be generated faster than using digital signature verificationtechnology, although it is not as robust. In one preferred embodiment,the authentication technique utilized is a BKEY (electronic key) device.A BKEY is an electronic identifier that is tied to a particularindividual.

Typically, in a preferred embodiment, the data is authenticatible andnon-repudiatible, rather than hidden or otherwise obfuscated, but may beobfuscated as the need anises. Non-repudiation is a way to guaranteethat the sender of a message cannot later deny having sent the message,and that the recipient cannot deny having received the message.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment, one or more gaming machinesystem or embedded additional user interface components (or content) areassigned identification codes. The components are grouped together intoa protected group of component bindings using cryptographic securityprocedures and the identification codes of the components in thebindings group. Accordingly, the bindings prevent falsification orrepudiation of content entries with respect to any modifications orreplacements of components or content within the bindings group.

In accordance with another aspect of a preferred embodiment, everycontent entry must be authenticated by being digitally signed with aHashed Message Authorization Code that is based on the entry itself andon the individual identification codes of the components and content inthe bindings group. In the same manner, every entry that attempts areplacement of any of the embedded additional user interface componentsor content must be authenticated by being digitally signed with a HashedMessage Authorization Code that is based on the entry itself and on theindividual identification codes of the components and content in thebindings group.

Preferably, the identification codes of the embedded additional userinterface components are randomly or pseudo-randomly generated. Inaccordance with another aspect of the verification system, a HashedMessage Authorization Code key for authenticating access to thecomponent bindings is produced using a SHA-1 (or better, e.g., SHA-256,512) hash that is generated using the individual identification codes ofthe components in the bindings group. Additionally, the embeddedadditional user interface components are secured within the componentbindings using a SHA-1 (or better) hash that is generated using theindividual identification codes of the components and content in thebindings group.

In accordance with another aspect of a preferred embodiment, an embeddedadditional user interface provides a multi-server client gaming userinterface.

Other features and advantages of the claimed invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way ofexample, the features of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a relational diagram of an embedded additional userinterface, constructed in accordance with the claimed invention,utilizing a web page display screen and an embedded processor thatreceives data messages from a game monitoring unit that are translatedinto web page content and mapped to the web page display screen;

FIG. 2 illustrates a relational diagram of a prior art gaming systemthat utilizes a 2×20 VF display and 12-digit keypad;

FIG. 3 illustrates a relational diagram of embedded additional userinterface, constructed in accordance with the claimed invention,utilizing a web page display screen and an embedded processor thatreceives cryptographically certified web page content from a portablecomputer via a network adapter port;

FIG. 4 illustrates a relational diagram of embedded additional userinterface, constructed in accordance with the claimed invention,utilizing a web page display screen and an embedded processor thatreceives web page content from a back-end server via anEthernet-networked backbone;

FIG. 5 illustrates a relational diagram of embedded additional userinterface, constructed in accordance with the claimed invention,utilizing a web page display screen and an embedded processor thatincludes the functionality of a standard gaming processor;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are each partial views of a diagram that illustrates anobject interaction diagram of embedded additional user interface,constructed in accordance with the claimed invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the sequence of events that occur when datais sent between the embedded additional user interface and the gamemonitoring unit;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the sequence of events that occur when avirtual key is pressed on the web page display screen; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embedded additional user interface thatprovides a multi-server client gaming user interface according to oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the embedded additional user interface,constructed in accordance with the claimed invention, is directedtowards the integration of an embedded additional user interface into agaming machine to increase user excitement by providing a richer gamingexperience. The embedded additional user interface provides enhancedplayer satisfaction and excitement, as well as improved gaming devicereliability, interactivity, flexibility, security, and accountability.The user interface is sometimes referred to herein as “additional” inthat the user interface is separate from the gaming screen (or othergaming presentation). Further, the user interface is sometimes referredto herein as “embedded” in that the user interface includes its ownprocessor in some preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denotelike or corresponding parts throughout the drawings and, moreparticularly to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown one embodiment of an embeddedadditional user interface 10. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows an embeddedadditional user interface 10 that includes a web page display screen 20and an embedded processor 30. The user interface 10 is incorporated intoa gaming machine 40 that, in turn, includes a gaming screen 50, (and/ornon-screen gaming region 50, e.g., spinning reels or other gamingpresentation) gaming processor 60, and a game monitoring unit 65. Theembedded processor 30 employs an internal operating system andcommunicates with the gaming processor 60, preferably via the gamemonitoring unit 65. The embedded processor 30 reads incoming data,translates the data into a web authoring language, and maps the data tothe web page display screen 20. The display screen 20 presents web pageinformation to a user via the display screen, thereby increasing userexcitement by providing a richer gaming experience. The game monitoringunit 65 monitors the information that is input through the userinterface 10. This provides a dramatic improvement over traditionalsystem components 70 that have been used as in the past to provide userinformation. The user interface 10 communicates with the game monitoringunit 65 in the same manner as the previous system components 70communicated with the game monitoring unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, prior art gaming devices typically utilized a singlevideo display screen as a gaming screen 50 for the gaming machine 40,while additional system components 70 were attached or juxtaposed nextto the gaming machine. The display may comprise, for example, a 2-line,20 character VF (Vacuum Fluorescent) display 20. An input device maycomprise a 12-digit keypad 71.

However, referring again to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of theclaimed invention, the system components 70 that were used in prior artsystems are replaced with the embedded additional user interface 10 toprovide the advanced functionality of a web page display screen 20. Suchfunctionality includes, by way of example only, and not by way oflimitation, the ability to display animation, multimedia, and otherweb-type content. The embedded additional user interface 10 enablespresentation of additional information (e.g., enhanced playerinformation) to a player (or potential player) through the web pagedisplay screen 20 in an exciting, eye-catching format, while notinterfering with the normal gaming processes being displayed on thegaming screen 50. Further, the embedded additional user interface 10does not interfere with the normal gaming hardware in the gaming machine40, but rather is easily integrated into a gaming machine 40.

In situations involving multiple gaming machine (or gaming component)manufacturers, an embedded additional user interface 10 can beincorporated into a gaming machine (either originally or byretrofitting) without requiring access to the game logic or other gamingsystems that might be proprietary and inaccessible with a gaming machinefrom another gaming manufacturer. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of theclaimed invention, the embedded additional user interface 10, whichincludes a web page display screen 20 for presenting supplementaryinformation to a player, is incorporated into a gaming machine 40 inaddition to the standard gaming screen 50 typically found in a gamingmachine. The embedded additional user interface 10 may also beincorporated into a gaming machine 40 that utilizes a gaming region(e.g., a reel-spinner) instead of a standard gaming screen 50. Thissupplemental information may include general gaming information, playerspecific information, player excitement and interest captivationcontent, advertising content (targeted or otherwise), and the like.Further, in other preferred embodiments, the embedded additional userinterface 10 may have the ability to interact with the game logic of thegaming processor 60, preferably via the game monitoring unit 65, andthus, provide further functionality, such as bonus games, system games,and/or the ability to incorporate awards, promotional offers, or giftsfrom the web page display screen 20 to the gaming screen 50. Moreover,the web page display screen 20 may display supplemental information inan “attract mode” when there is no game play occurring. Also the gamingprocessor 60 may use the web page display screen 20 to present casinoemployees with a web based dialogue to facilitate gaming machineconfiguration and event investigation activities without disturbing thegaming screen/region 50.

In a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention, the embeddedadditional user interface 10 is used to make casino services moreaccessible and friendly to casino patrons. In one preferred embodiment,the embedded additional user interface 10 is designed to interface withthe hardware configuration of game platforms currently employed in anexisting gaming communication systems network, thus decreasingimplementation costs for the casino. A standard gaming network interfaceto the systems network, such as a Mastercom system, includes amulti-drop bus method of communicating to a keypad and display. TheMastercom system is available from Bally Manufacturing, and is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,361 to Raven et al. incorporated herein byreference. One such currently utilized bus is an EPI (Enhanced PlayerInterface), which uses an industry standard I²C bus and signaling.

In one preferred embodiment, the embedded additional user interface 10is used to replace/upgrade an EPI. Preferably, the embedded additionaluser interface 10 replaces the EPI of the gaming machine in a “plug andplay” manner. In other words, the old EPI can be unplugged and the newembedded additional user interface 10 can simply be plugged into the I²Cbus of the game monitoring unit 65 in the gamming machine 40. The userinterface 10 utilizes the currently employed industry standard I²C busand signaling without requiring any further modification. The embeddedprocessor 30 of the embedded additional user interface 10 reads incomingI²C data (content), translates the data into a web authoring language(e.g., HTML, DHTML, XML, MACROMEDIA FLASH), and maps the data to the webpage display screen 20. In this manner, the previous I²C data messages,which were typically presented on a 2-line, 20 character VF display, areautomatically transformed by the embedded additional user interface 10into an attention grabbing, animated (multimedia) web page style format.This results in enhanced player satisfaction and excitement withextremely minimal retrofitting requirements.

Since, in one preferred embodiment, the embedded additional userinterface 10 utilizes I²C hardware and signaling, this enables the userinterface 10 to speak and understand the I²C protocol message set, andthus, communicate directly with the gaming processor 60 of the gamingmachine 40 (or other similarly networked devices) in the same fashion inwhich the gaming processor previously communicated with the EPI.Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention, thefunctionality of the previously utilized hardware (e.g., the EPI) can bereplaced or augmented and thus substantially upgraded with theintegration of the embedded additional user interface 10 into the gamingmachine 40. As such, the limitations placed upon the gaming processor 50by the low function external hardware of such system components 70(e.g., a keypad and a 2-line, 20 character VF display) may beeliminated.

As stated above, in one preferred embodiment, the incoming data receivedby the embedded additional user interface 10 is I²C signaling protocol;however, in other preferred embodiments other serial communicationprotocols (or electronic communication format) may be utilized.Preferably, the embedded processor 30 communicates with the gamingprocessor 60 via the game monitoring unit 65, and/or other connecteddevices, over an I²C bus (or over another serial communications bus inembodiments that utilize another protocol). The web page display screen20 of the embedded additional user interface 10 is preferably acolor-graphic touch screen display. Preferably, the embedded processor30 is at least a 32-bit processor. A preferred embodiment utilizes a32-bit processor because cryptographic techniques, such as SHA-1 (orbetter) and DSA algorithms, are written and operate natively on a 32-bitsystem. Additionally, the Microsoft® Windows® environment, which isutilized in some preferred embodiments of the claimed invention, is also32-bit. Further, the internal operating system of the embeddedadditional user interface 10 may be adapted or customized to match thespecific communication bus hardware used by the devices in the gamingmachine 40 to which the internal operating system communicates.

Preferably, the embedded additional user interface 10 is an embeddedcomputer board that, in addition to the embedded processor 30 and theweb page display screen 20, further includes a removable COMPACT FLASHcard 75 (or other memory storage device), as shown in FIG. 1, and anetwork adapter port. Content and feature updates to the embeddedadditional user interface 10 are accomplished by physically swapping outthe COMPACT FLASH card 75 (or other memory storage device). Thus, inorder to retrieve data from the embedded additional user interface 10,the data is accessed by physically removing and reading the COMPACTFLASH card 75. In other embodiments, as described below, updates may beprovided by direct or peer-to-peer downloading over a network.

In one preferred embodiment, the internal operating system utilized bythe embedded processor 30 of the embedded additional user interface 10is WINDOWS® CE version 4.2 (or higher). Preferably, the embeddedadditional user interface 10 is built upon a PXA255-based boarddeveloped by the Kontron Corporation. Additionally, in a preferredembodiment of the embedded additional user interface 10, the browsercontrol for the web page display screen 20 is MICROSOFT® INTERNETEXPLORER® 6.0 (or higher), which is shipped standard with WINDOWS® CE4.2, the preferred internal operating system for the embedded processor30.

A preferred embodiment of the embedded additional user interface 10 alsoprovides a mechanism for inputting system information into, andretrieving system information from, the game machine 40. As statedabove, the embedded additional user interface 10 preferably usesindustry standard I²C hardware and signaling. The I²C protocol hasmulti-master capabilities, i.e., is capable of participating as both aslave and as a master. The embedded additional user interface 10 enablessystem information (such as information input by a player into a webpage display screen 20) to be sent from the game machine 40 to a slotsystem network (or to another destination location). Likewise, theembedded additional user interface 10 also enables the systeminformation (such as display messages) to be sent from the systemsnetwork (or from another source location) to the game machine 40 forviewing by the player through the web page display screen 20.

In a preferred embodiment, information can also be input by a user intothe web page display screen 20 of the user interface 10. The web pagedisplay screen 20 of the user interface 10 employs a virtual keypad.Further, the user interface 10 uses a keypad dictionary that allows auser to be able to enter a vastly greater amount of information than waspreviously possible using a 12 digit VF keypad. For example, the virtualkey on the touch screen that is displayed by the browser is pressed by auser. This calls the Keypad object by calling its Dispatch interfacewith a string that identifies which virtual key was pressed. The Keypadobject looks up the string in the Dictionary object which has beenloaded at initialization time with a set of keys to return when thatstring is passed to it. When it retrieves this set of zero or more keycharacters, it passes them to the GMU by calling the interface exposedby the object.

Typically, a network interface (or equivalent system) is used to controlthe flow of funds used with the gaming machine 40 within a particularcasino. By utilizing the embedded additional user interface 10 of theclaimed invention, the gaming network interface can be instructed tomove funds between player's accounts and gaming devices by merelytouching the web page display screen 20. In addition, many other moresophisticated commands and instructions may be provided. Thus, theembedded additional user interface 10 improves the player and casinoemployee interface to the gaming machine 40, directly at the gamingdevice itself.

In a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention, the web page displayscreen 20 of the embedded additional user interface 10 enables a playerto be shown player messages in an animated, multimedia, web contentstyle environment. These messages would previously have been displayedin a significantly more mundane format on a separate display device(e.g., a 2-line VF display device). In some preferred embodiments, touchscreen buttons in the web page display screen 20 are used by the playerto navigate between windows in web page display screen 20 and allowaccess to system functions such as cashless withdraw, balance requests,system requests, points redemption, and the like. In other preferredembodiments of the claimed invention, the web page display screen 20utilizes various other data input techniques commonly known in the art,instead of the touch screen data entry. Thus, implementation of theembedded additional user interface 10 is an efficient, highlybeneficial, and substantial upgrade to a gaming machine 40 that greatlyincreases the functionality over what was previously possible using anEPI.

In one preferred embodiment, text data messages are translated into webpage navigation requests by the embedded processor 30 and then displayedon the web page display screen 20 as shown and discussed with respect toFIGS. 6A and 6B below. Script languages, such as JAVA SCRIPT and VBSCRIPT, are also utilized for some of the web pages. Preferably, theembedded additional user interface 10 emulates the 12-digit keypad andthe 2×20 VF display on the web page display screen 20, which has touchscreen capabilities. In this embodiment, commands that were previouslydisplayed on the 2×20 VF display are matched to a corresponding URL anda browser is used to render the page on the web page display screen 20.The web pages displayed contain touch-screen keys that effectivelyemulate hardware keys.

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, in one preferred embodiment of theclaimed invention, a dictionary URL approach is used for translating thedata messages into web page information. In this manner, data messagesare “looked up” in a dictionary data file where they can be redirectedto an attractive URL. The embedded processor 30 responds to requests onthe I²C bus that were intended for the prior art enhanced playerinterface (EPI) VF display. The web page display screen 20 is not apassive display device like traditional PC monitors, but rather thedisplay screen 20 must respond to commands with text type responses.These requests include initialization requests, status requests, anddisplay requests. With reference to FIG. 7, as each text data message tobe displayed is passed into the embedded processor 30, the processor 30calls a URL Dictionary to look up a URL with which to replace the textdata message. Once the substitution is complete, the embedded processor30 instructs the web page display screen 20 to present (or navigate to)the appropriate web page.

Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 8, a URL Dictionary component isused to map a text string, sent from the embedded processor 30 andintended for the display on the 2×20 VF display, to a URL that can beused to display a much more visually enhanced graphical representationof the same message. Thus, the URL Dictionary component contains alisting of the possible text messages to be supported that could be sentfrom the embedded processor 30, and a mapping to a set of the desiredeye-catching, web content to be displayed on the web page display screen20. In this event that a message is not in the URL Dictionary, such amessage is mapping to a page that substitutes for the 2-line mode.

In the preferred embodiments described above, the embedded processor 30of the embedded additional user interface 10 reads incoming I²C datamessages, translates the I²C data messages into a web authoring language(e.g., HTML, DHTML, XML, MACROMEDIA FLASH), and maps the newlytranslated web page data message to the web page display screen 20.Additionally, the embedded additional user interface 10 can also readincoming data messages that are already in a web authoring language(e.g., HTML, DHTML, XML, MACROMEDIA FLASH), and map this web page datato the web page display screen 20. Further, and highly advantageously, apreferred embodiment of the claimed invention also allows casinos thatare using the embedded additional user interface 10 to design and usetheir own content, thereby giving the casinos the ability to decide whatthe web page presented on the web page display screen 20 of the userinterface 10 will look like.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in this preferred embodiment, content may belocally downloaded. Specifically, in one preferred embodiment, thecontent is updated through a physical USB (or other connection) that isused to download the new content. In one preferred embodiment, the dataon the COMPACT FLASH card 75 can be accessed by connecting a separatecomputer 78 to the network adapter port of the embedded additional userinterface 10. This embodiment allows updating the contents of theoperating system, changing the operating system itself, and receivingdata from the Compact Flash card 75. Physical removal of the COMPACTFLASH card 75 is also still be an option for update and inspection offiles on the embedded additional user interface 10.

In one preferred embodiment, a portable computer is used store andpublish data content to the COMPACT FLASH card 75 on the embeddedadditional user interface 10, as well as to receiving data from theCOMPACT FLASH card 75 on the embedded additional user interface. In thisembodiment, all content on the embedded additional user interface 10 isauthenticated as if it were a gaming machine.

In another preferred embodiment, a network adapter port is run on theembedded computer board of the user interface 10. This embodiment-alsoincludes a boot loader. Further, in this embodiment, the portablecomputer 78 (described above) includes components for use in uploadingdata to, and downloading data from, the COMPACT FLASH card 75 on theembedded additional user interface 10. Specifically, the components thatrun on the portable computer 78 are for moving new data content to theembedded additional user interface 10, and for validation andverification of the data content that is on the embedded additional userinterface. Preferably, all data that is used to update the COMPACT FLASHcard 75 moves to or from the embedded additional user interface 10 overthe single built in network adapter port on the board.

Prior to the advent of the embedded additional user interface 10 of theclaimed invention, gaming regulators would have been unwilling to allowcasino operators to design their own content. However, due to thecryptographic technology implemented by the embedded processor 30 in theembedded additional user interface 10, a certification process isprovided by the claimed invention with sufficient security for gamingregulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.Specifically, in one preferred embodiment, the certification processoffered ensures authentication and non-repudiation of the casinooperator designed web content. Preferably, in the claimed invention thecertification process provided further ensures auditability andtraceability. Various cryptographic technologies, such as authenticationand non-repudiation (described herein below), are utilized in preferredembodiments of the claimed invention, to provide sufficient security forgaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

In one preferred embodiment, this certification process is used tocertify “signed content” (created by the casino owners) in the samemanner that a “signed program” is certified. Preferably, PKI (Public KeyInfrastructure) is utilized in the certification process. PKI is asystem of digital certificates, Certificate Authorities, and otherregistration authorities that verify authenticity and validity. In onepreferred embodiment, a “new tier” or second PKI is created that isrooted in the primary PKI and that leverages the capabilities of thecertificate (e.g., a x509 certificate) that allow for limited access.Thus, this preferred embodiment allows the attributes within thecertificate are used to provide “levels” of code access and acceptancein the gaming industry.

In one embodiment, the content is protected by digital signatureverification using DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) or RSA(Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) technology. In this regard, the content ispreferably protected using digital signature verification so that anyunauthorized changes are easily identifiable. A digital signature is thedigital equivalent of a handwritten signature in that it binds anindividual's identity to a piece of information. A digital signaturescheme typically consists of a signature creation algorithm and anassociated verification algorithm. The digital signature creationalgorithm is used to produce a digital signature. The digital signatureverification algorithm is used to verify that a digital signature isauthentic (i.e., that it was indeed created by the specified entity). Inanother embodiment, the content is protected using other suitabletechnology.

In one preferred embodiment, a Secure Hash Function-1 (SHA-1) is used tocompute a 160-bit hash value from the data content or firmware contents.This 160-bit hash value, which is also called an abbreviated bit string,is then processed to create a signature of the game data using aone-way, private signature key technique, called Digital SignatureAlgorithm (DSA). The DSA uses a private key of a private key/public keypair, and randomly or pseudo-randomly generated integers, to produce a320-bit signature of the 160-bit hash value of the data content orfirmware contents. This signature is stored in the database in additionto the identification number. In other preferred embodiments, higherlevel Secure Hash Functions are used, such as SHA-256 or SHA-512.

In another preferred embodiment, the claimed invention utilizes aMessage Authentication Code (MAC). A Message Authentication Code is aspecific type of message digest in which a secret key is included aspart of the fingerprint. Whereas a normal digest consists of a hash(data), the MAC consists of a hash (key+data). Thus, a MAC is a bitstring that is a function of both data (either plaintext or ciphertext)and a secret key. A Message Authentication Code is attached to data inorder to allow data authentication. Further, a MAC may be used tosimultaneously verify both the data integrity and the authenticity of amessage. Typically, a Message Authentication Code (MAC) is a one-wayhash function that takes as input both a symmetric key and some data. Asymmetric-key algorithm is an algorithm for cryptography that uses thesame cryptographic key to encrypt and decrypt the message.

A Message Authentication Code can be generated faster than using digitalsignature verification technology; however, a Message AuthenticationCode is not as robust as digital signature verification technology.Thus, when speed of processing is critical the use of a MessageAuthentication Code provides an advantage, because it can be created andstored more rapidly than digital signature verification technology.

In one preferred embodiment, the authentication technique utilized is aBKEY (electronic key) device. A BKEY is an electronic identifier that istied to a particular individual. In this manner, any adding, accessing,or modification of content that is made using a BKEY for authenticationis linked to the specific individual to which that BKEY is associated.Accordingly, an audit trail is thereby established for regulators and/orother entities that require this kind of data or system authentication.

Another preferred embodiment of the verification system utilizes“component bindings” for verification using cryptographic security. Incomponent binding, some components come equipped with unalterable serialnumbers. Additionally, components such as web content or the gamecabinet may also be given another random identification number by theowner. Other components in the system, such as the CMOS memory in themotherboard, the hard drive, and the non-volatile RAM, are also issuedrandom identification numbers. When all or some of these numbers aresecured together collectively in a grouping, this protected grouping isreferred to as a “binding.” Each component of the machine contains itsportion of the binding.

In one such preferred embodiment, every critical log entry made to thecontent is signed with a Hashed Message Authorization Code (HMAC) thatis based on the entry itself, and on the individual binding codes. Inthis manner, the security produced by the bindings ensures that logentries that are made cannot be falsified or repudiated.

After the critical gaming and/or system components are selected, givenindividual identifiers, and combined into a protected grouping that issecured using the component “bindings,” any changes to those componentswill then be detected, authorized, and logged. For example, contentwithin the binding is digitally signed (SHA-1 or better) using the keyderived from the bindings. This signature is verified whenever an entryis made to a component within the binding. If the signature is wrong,this security violation and the violator are noted, but typically theentry is not prohibited. In other embodiments, the entry may beprohibited as well. Thus, the component binding produces a cryptographicaudit trail of the individuals making changes to any of the componentswithin the binding.

Moreover, bindings ensure that the critical components of a gamingmachine system, or the content utilized therein, that have been selectedto be components within the binding have not been swapped or altered inan unauthorized manner. Preferably, bindings use unique identificationnumbers that are assigned to vital parts of the gaming platformincluding, by way of example only, and not by way of limitation, thecabinet, motherboard, specific software, non-volatile RAM card, content(data), and hard drive. These identification numbers combine in acryptographic manner to form a “binding” that protects and virtuallyencloses the included components, such that no component within thebinding can be modified, removed, or replaced without creating an audittrail and requiring authentication. Thus, for one of these componentswithin the binding to be changed, appropriate authentication is requiredand a log file entry is made documenting the activity and the identityof the individual making the change. In one preferred embodiment, aspecific level of BKEY clearance or classification is required to makespecific changes.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in one preferred embodiment, the embeddedadditional user interface 10 connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone80 instead of a local system network. Currently, casino networks are notEthernet, but rather are smaller, more simplistic local system networks.Thus, in this Ethernet-networked backbone 80 embodiment, the currentsystem network is replaced by an industry standard Ethernet backbone,such as 10/100 base T Ethernet running over Cat 3, 4, 5, 6, or higher.Thus, a standard 10/100 base T Ethernet card is added to the processorin this embodiment. Preferably, the network employs TCP/IP, HTTP, andXML messaging or a variant of XML. Nevertheless any suitable protocolmay be used.

Further, in another preferred embodiment, the embedded additional userinterface 10 connects to a full featured, back end, downloadconfiguration server 90 through the above-described Ethernet-networkedbackbone 80 as shown in FIG. 4. In such an embodiment, the full-featuredserver 90 can schedule downloads of content (gaming or otherwise) aswell as upload information from the gaming machines 40, such as whatoptions the gaming machines 40 currently possess. Accordingly, in apreferred embodiment, the primary use of the server 90 is as datadownload and data retrieval server. While this server 90 does upload anddownload web content style information, it is typically not connected tothe World Wide Web. This server 90 must be authenticated Oust like agaming machine) to make the content served to the embedded additionaluser interface 10 acceptable to the gaming regulators. Preferably,utilization of the Ethernet-networked backbone 80 and the server 90provides many system benefits, including but not limited to reliability,maintainability, security, content staging, content testing, deploymentprocedures, and incident recovery. In one embodiment, deliverables alsopreferably include content templates and guidelines for casino ownersand operators to create their own web content for deployment to the webserver. In one embodiment, the web server 90 has its contentauthenticated in the same manner as the embedded additional userinterface 10 to allow content to be downloaded to the web page displayscreen 20.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in another preferred embodiment of the claimedinvention, the functions previously performed by the gaming monitoringunit 65, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, of the gaming machine 40 are supportedby the embedded processor 30 of the embedded additional user interface10. Otherwise stated, the GMU code is transitioned from the gamingmonitoring unit 65 into the embedded processor 30 in the embeddedadditional user interface 10. Accordingly, such a configuration removesthe need for the gaming monitoring unit 65 in the gaming machine 40.This results in a significant reduction in the amount and complexity ofthe hardware, as well as completing a phased transition of moretraditional style gaming machines into more modernized upgraded gamingmachines.

Thus, in such a preferred embodiment, the claimed invention is directedtowards an embedded additional user interface 10 that is incorporatedinto a gaming machine 30, the gaming machine in turn including a gamingscreen 50 or other appropriate gaming region (e.g., spinning reels), butdoes not include a gaming monitoring unit 65. Such an embeddedadditional user interface 10 still includes a web content capabledisplay screen 20 and an embedded processor 30. Once again, the webcontent capable display screen 20 presents web information to a user viathe display screen. The embedded processor 30 preferably utilizes aninternal operating system. Furthermore, in this embodiment the embeddedprocessor 30 additionally includes standard gaming monitoring unitfunctionality (GMU code), since it replaces the gaming monitoring unit65 in the gaming machine 40. As before, the embedded processor 30 readsincoming data, translates the data into a web protocol (web authoringlanguage), if necessary, and maps the data to the web content capabledisplay screen 20.

In one embodiment, the embedded additional user interface 10, themessages are flashed (e.g., animation, multimedia, and the like) to theplayer within the web page display screen 20 while the gaming screen 50is used for game play. These web page style messages can be set atvirtually any desired length, format, or style. A message might display,for example, “Welcome to Harrah's Las Vegas! You have 1200 bonus points.Would you like to make a hotel or dinner reservation?” Importantly,while a previous utilized EPI would only been capable of scrolling thismessage in one-quarter inch (0.25″) tall monochrome text, in contrast,the web page display screen 20 would “flash” this message in bright red,white, black, and green animated format, on six inch (6.0″) by threeinch (3.0″) color graphic display. Additionally, in some embodiments,inserting a player identification card into a card reader and/orselecting a player services button activates additional player servicesfunctionality.

In one exemplary embodiment of the embedded additional user interface 10that utilizes a card reader (or other identification technique, such asa player ID code) to recognize a particular player, the web page displayscreen 20 displays an eye-catching, web page-style message to thatplayer, for example, “Welcome, Mr. Smith!” in response to identifyingMr. Smith. Preferably, the web page display screen 20 also has touchscreen capabilities that include, by way of example only, and not by wayof limitation, “Beverages,” “Change,” “Services,” “Transactions,” and“Return to Game.” In one embodiment, each of the touch screen iconbuttons, when selected, launches a new full screen display within theweb page display screen 20 for the player.

For example, in one embodiment, when the “Transactions” touch screenicon button is selected, a new screen is activated that includes the webpage style message, “Mr. Smith, Account Balance: Bonus Points=1200,Player Funds=$150, Available Credit=$850, Casino Matching FundsAvailable=$25,” as well as the “Return to Game” icon button 120. As afurther example, when the player selects a “Cashless Withdraw” button inanother embodiment, a new screen is activated that includes a touchscreen keypad and flashes the question, “How much do you want?” as wellas “Enter,” “Clear,” and “Back” buttons. Preferably, this interface alsoincludes an “Information” button that, when selected, launches a newscreen within the web page display screen 20 that provides answers tofrequently asked questions and other useful information. Moreover, theweb page display screen 20 preferably also includes a “History” buttonthat, when selected, launches a new screen within the web page displayscreen 20 that provides a history log of all transactions and otheractions performed on that gaming machine 40.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the claimed inventionis directed towards a method for increasing user excitement relating toa gaming machine by providing a richer gaming experience via an embeddedadditional user interface that is incorporated into the gaming machine.The method preferably includes: receiving a serial data message (e.g.,an I²C data message) containing enhanced player information over aserial communication bus (e.g., an I²C) bus in the embedded additionaluser interface 10; translating the data message (using the embeddedprocessor 30) into a web authoring language; and mapping the datamessage to the web page display screen 20, wherein the display screenpresents web page information to a user via the display screen.

The potential advantages of utilizing the embedded additional userinterface 10 of the claimed invention are numerous. These potentialadvantages include, by way of example only, and not by way oflimitation: providing animated and/or multimedia web style content;providing fonts and icons which are larger and more aestheticallyappealing; providing special services to players, (e.g., multiplelanguages, assistance for handicapped individuals); facilitatinginteractive uses of the web page display screen 20; providing theability to customize the “look and feel” of the web page display screen20 for players and casino employees; increased player excitement andparticipation; and simplified replaceability and/or upgradeability froman EPI or other similar non-web page style components.

In one embodiment, the embedded additional user interface 10, whichoperates as a user interface (UI) or terminal, includes a video displaythat is equipped with a touch screen and audio device. In thisembodiment, the embedded additional user interface 10 provides thegaming machine with the capability of executing applications from one ormore web servers, as well as enabling the execution of the gamingmachine's local applications, simultaneously. For example, in oneembodiment, the gaming machine contains an interactive local playertracking and game management system unit, but also executes a back-endcasino management application located on a back-end server. Further, inone embodiment, the UI comprises a touch controlled web-browser thatrenders information from the local gaming machine and interconnected webservers, thereby providing the user with (1) game data, (2) local playersession data, and (3) back-end casino management data in a singleinterface. For example, in one embodiment, each of these types of dataincludes coin-in derivative data for the player: the coin-in derivativesfor the game, the coin-in derivatives for the player session, and thecoin-in derivative for that player for one or more casinos. The coin-inand bonus status based on the coin-in for each of these types of datacan be displayed, each in different screen regions, or in the samescreen region, if desired.

In one embodiment, the game data includes the output for playing a game,including a game that executes locally within the gaming machine, or anetwork game, such as a progressive game or peer-to-peer game. The localsession data includes data related to a player's use of the gamingmachine from the time the player first began play on the gaming machine.In some cases, the local session data determines whether a player iseligible for bonuses as a result of game play during a session. Forexample, in one embodiment, the player is given a free play of a hand ofelectronic poker if 25 hands were played in the last hour. In anotherembodiment, a bonus game is associated with a player's play on a gamingmachine during prior sessions (to attract particular players back togaming machines they have played).

The back-end casino management data allows global bonusing (or systemgaming). In one embodiment, a bonus or system game is awarded based onall prior play by the player within a casino or all play within severalcasinos. Whether based on (1) game data, (2) local player session data,and/or (3) back-end casino management data, a player's eligibility for avariety of system games may be accessed simultaneously from the singleuser interface.

In one embodiment, system gaming is based on one or any combination ofthe following: (1) data collected regarding games played on the localgaming machine 40 by any number of players or all players, (2) back endcasino management data collected regarding games played by one playeranywhere in the casino; and/or (3) back-end casino management datacollected regarding games played by several players or all players in acasino, or two or more casinos. For example, with regard to game play onthe local gaming machine in one embodiment, a bonus is triggered after athreshold coin-in on the gaming machine 40 is met, whether the coin-inamount is from one player or several players who have played games onthe gaming machine 40. In another embodiment, back-end casino data iscollected through the network from many gaming machines played by aplayer. The data includes coin-in data to compare against a threshold todetermine whether one or more bonuses should be awarded to the player,who is identified using a player ID card that is swiped or inserted intothe gaming machine during game play.

In another embodiment, back-end casino data collected through thenetwork from many gaming machines includes coin-in data to compareagainst a threshold to determine whether one or more bonuses should beawarded at one or more of the gaming machines.

In another embodiment, the game data and/or backend casino data includesyield management data. In one embodiment, the yield management dataincludes projection data calculated based on one or more factors relatedto use of one or more gaming machines. For example, in one embodiment,the yield management data includes game play projection data, machineusage projection data, and/or income projection, data calculated basedhistorical game play data for the one or more gaming machines. In oneembodiment, the calculations are performed using linear regressionanalysis. In another embodiment, the calculations are performed using aneural network. In one embodiment, yield management data is used todetermine one or more bonuses or the play characteristics of a systemgame. The embedded user interface 10 facilitates presenting this backend casino or casino management data directly at the gaming machine 40.

With reference to FIG. 9, in one embodiment, the UI is within theembedded additional user interface 10, which provides a multi-serverclient gaming user interface. The embedded additional user interface 10also uses web browser Internet protocol (IP) technology. To provide suchfunctionality, the embedded additional user interface 10, may comprisethe equivalent of a small personal computer (PC) in tablet form. In oneembodiment, although typically the additional embedded user interface 10is smaller in dimension, the Gateway® M275 Series by Gateway, Inc. ofIrvine, Calif., is a notebook PC that is operable as a Tablet PC and canbe used to implement the additional embedded user interface 10. A touchscreen 902 is included in such a system. In one embodiment, theprocessor and memory storage device (FIG. 5), and other computerelectronics are contained in a thin casing behind the touch screen 902.The touch screen 902 obviates the need for a separate keypad orkeyboard, which can be virtualized in one of several screen regions 920,922, 924, 926, 928, 930. In one embodiment, the Windows® XP® operatingsystem available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. operatesthe embedded additional user interface 10. In another embodiment, when asmaller interface is required, a personal digital assistant (PDA), suchas the Palm Pilot®, available from Palm Computing, Inc. of Santa Clara,Calif. is used instead of a tablet PC. Such PDAs are also capable ofexecuting one or more versions of the Windows® Operating System,including Windows CE® with a web browser built in.

Tablet PCs, and now many PDAs such as the Palm Pilot® typically contain,or have available, one or more built-in networking connections 900 tothe Ethernet network 80, which may either comprise a hard-wiredconnection or an 802.11x “wi-fi” or wireless connection. Although othernetwork typologies may be used, the present wide spread availability ofEthernet technology provides an easy networking solution for the system.Security for a “wi-fi” enabled system is provided as discussed below.

In one embodiment, the Ethernet network 80 comprises a peer-to-peernetwork connecting multiple devices capable of HTML web page service.Off the shelf networking equipment may be used for the network 80, suchas the Netgear® Double 108 Mbps Firewall Router, Model WGU624, availablefrom Netgear, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. Such networking systemstypically provide plug-in-play (PnP) installation for the currentWindows® series of operating system versions. The peer-to-peer typenetwork allows a network to forward information from one machine toanother, without the need for a connection at one central location todistribute data in the network.

While Ethernet technology began as a collision-detection bus network inmost modern Ethernet platforms, a concentrator is used in a star-typenetwork structure with physical lines to each node on the network.Nevertheless, peer-to-peer networking is still practiced in Ethernetnetworks, wherein one node forwards or sends data to another node, whichcan send the data to yet another node. In this fashion, updates may beperpetuated through the network without using a central server toarbitrate the transfer. The Microsoft Windows Network® is an example ofa peer-to-peer network that can use Ethernet technology for the physicalnetwork. True physical peer-to-peer networks that can also be used withthe invention include token-ring and the peer-to-peer networking builtinto currently sold PC systems by the Apple Computer Corporation.Nevertheless, whether the physical network layer is true peer-to-peer,the operating system layer and application layer may send and receivedata in true peer-to-peer fashion over the network from one node toanother, without regard to whether a central server is involved or not.

In one embodiment, the Internet connection 900 comprises an add-on orbuilt-in Ethernet port in the back of the embedded additional userinterface 10. In another embodiment, the Internet connection 900comprises a wi-fi connection built directly into the embedded additionaluser interface 10 using, for example, Intel® Centrino® technology.Current wi-fi security systems, such as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security, may be used to secure thewireless connection. In another embodiment, wireless technology is notused by the embedded additional user interface 10 of the claimedinvention.

Preferably, an audio device 950 is included with the embedded additionaluser interface 10. In one embodiment, the audio device 950 comprises anupgraded sound system, such as a stereo set of PC compatible speakerslinked to a sound card in the tablet PC-type of embedded additional userinterface 10. The audio device 950 is used as a secondary sound systemthat projects audio signals provided only by the embedded additionaluser interface 10 with the underlying gaming machine 40 having aseparate sound system 948. However, in one embodiment, the audio signalsproduced by the underlying gaming machine 40 and the embedded additionaluser interface 10 are combined by the embedded additional user interface10 for presentation by the audio device 950. In another embodiment, theembedded additional user interface 10 provides its audio signals back tothe underlying gaming machine 40 for presentation by the native soundsystem 948.

Bi-directional communication between the gamming processor 60 of theunderlying gaming machine 40 and the embedded additional user interface10 is accomplished using a variety of methods, including, but notlimited to, using a USB connection or hub 940. For older gaming machinesthat may not support USB technology, an RS232, or parallel connection942 with a null modem crossover send/receive wire may be used forbidirectional communications.

In one embodiment, several network devices, such as servers 90, 76, 74,are connected to the network 80 with one or more of the servers 74having a connection through a wide area network 82. In some embodiments,the wide area network 82 comprises the Internet with the server 74connected to the network 80 through a secure virtual private network(VPN) pipe. Thus, the embedded additional user interface 10 and gamemachine 40 have access to the VPN servers 74 and also other non-securedevices, such as Internet web servers 64. Each server serves browsercontent (graphics, text, animation, multi-media, sound) relevant to itsparticular function. In some embodiments, each one of the screen regions920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930 comprises an application window in whichone or more web server and local applications execute.

In one embodiment, the execution in each application window occurssimultaneously. For example, each screen region 920, 922, 924, 926, 928,930 is implemented as a separate execution of a browser program orinstance of a browser program, such as the Microsoft® InternetExplorer®, or the Netscape® browser. Each of these browser applicationsprovide the capability of executing HTML, XML, Java®, and otherbrowser-compatible applications within an autonomous browser instance,while allowing, if desired, interaction between the browser instances.Referring, for example, to Internet Explorer® for the purpose ofexplanation when an HTML web page, or other browser displayable data isreceived, an intermediate receptor provides the data stream to aconnection management system to provide the data to the properapplication window. A well-known example of such a system is the Winsocksystem in the Windows(& environment.

Using Winsock, when a client, such as the embedded additional userinterface 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 9 accesses a server, it opens aconnection to the server using the TCP/IP protocol. A first step inopening this communication requires the central processing unit to opena socket. The sockets system (also called Berkeley sockets) is part ofthe Winsock protocol, which is an application programming interface(API) commonly used to access the Internet. Generally, to open a socket,three steps are taken. A socket is first allocated. Next, a socket is“bound” to a local address that identifies the client and client windowexecuting the relevant application. The socket is then associated withthe IP address of the host, which may be a remote server 74, 76, 90, 64,or local host (e.g., gaming machine 40). Data is received and sent(receive and send calls) between the client and host as needed accordingto HTTP, FTP, or whatever communication protocol is required to downloadthe page.

Several sockets can be opened at the same time. For example, eachinstance of a browser or screen region 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930running an application, opens a socket to exchange information with aserver 74, 76, 90, 64 or gamming machine 40. Each socket opened by eachscreen region 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930 is able to thus connect to aseparate entity or device connected to the network.

In the example of FIG. 9, each screen region 920, 922, 924, 926, 928,930 is shown separate and spaced apart from each other for the purposeof illustration. However, the Windows® operating environment and otheroperating systems that can be used, such as Linux® or XWindows, allowfor application windows, including instances of browsers to be tiled orover overlapped. Thus, in one embodiment, each screen region 920, 922,924, 926, 928, 930 may comprise either a browser or non-browserapplication window executing a local, secure network, or web,application, executing simultaneously.

Although the operating system used, for example, Windows®, may becapable of providing the user or game player with unrestricted freedomand access to use the software and navigate the content of each screenregion 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930 in the gaming environment, providingsuch access may not be desirable or secure. For example, if a localapplication being run from the gaming machine 40 is executing in screenregion 920 that requires interaction, then the player should not beallowed to overlap, ignore or forget the screen region 920 to focusattention to web browsing in screen region 930 or other screen regions.In some embodiments, it is desirable to limit the extent to which aplayer is allowed to perform other tasks in a screen region 930 while agame, or other critical application is executing in another screenregion 920. An application control layer may be provided to placerestrictions on the use of one or more of the and screen regions 920,922, 924, 926, 928, 930, and the priority for which the application in ascreen region 920 must be addressed by the player.

Any number of methods may be used to control the player's navigation ofthe screen regions 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930. The following examplesare provided by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Forexample, the embedded additional user interface 10 provides content, andreceives content from the server 64, 74, 76 and 90 in a round-robinfashion, giving each a specific amount of time of priority on the screen902 for providing content to the player. In some embodiments, theembedded user interface 10 queries, retrieves, polls, or pulls contentfrom each server 64, 74, 76, 90, as each server is provided its time forpriority (for example, using HTTP 1.1 GET calls). In this data pull-typesystem, the embedded user interface 10 for each screen region queriesone or more of the servers 64, 74, 76, 90 that control or provides thecontent for the particular screen region, to determine if the servercontains data to be provided for display. If data is waiting, theembedded user interface 10 sends a GET call to the server to retrievethe data. The querying is performed based on priority or time slicingfor each screen region, or a combination thereof.

In other embodiments, as each server 64, 74, 76, 90 is allotted time toprovide or push content during its time for priority (for example, usingHTTP 1.1 SEND calls). In this data push-type system, the servers 64, 74,76, 90 may use SEND calls to send data to the screen regions 920, 922,924, 926, 928, 930. The operating and Internet protocol systems (e.g.,TCP/IP) can then sort the data using Winsock or other internal method toprocess the received data for presentation in each screen region. Theprocessing of the received data resulting from the SEND calls may begiven priorities for processing according to the server from which thedata was received or based on a time slicing method for prioritizingprocessing of the received data.

In another embodiment, the screen 902 renders a common, pre-determinedformat. In such an embodiment, any server can send a message, or otheroutput for output on the screen 902 or sound system 950. Depending onthe message, output, or server from which the message or output isreceived, the embedded additional user interface 10 will render it asinstructed by the pre-determined format. For instance, in oneembodiment, a set of rules are used to determine display of receivedmessages that are received or “pushed” from the servers 64, 74, 76, 90which in some embodiments may comprise update messages. Messagesreceived from Internet web servers 64 are delayed under thepre-determined format, and/or displayed in a screen region 920 of lowerpriority while game play input is provided in another screen region 922.Further, any subsequent message from the server 64 may overwrite anypreviously sent message from itself, or another server 74, if themessage from the other server 74 is marked urgent, or under othercircumstances, if the received message is an update message making theprevious message obsolete.

In yet another embodiment, particular screen regions 920, 922, 924, 926,928, 930 are designated as owned by a particular server 90, 76, 74, 64.In this embodiment, the player may navigate each frame individuallyusing the touch screen 902, wherein each screen region 920, 922, 924,926, 928, 930 is designated for a server 90, 76, 74, 64. Each screen920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930 acts as an independent browser into aparticular server 90, 76, 74, 64.

Although the invention has been described in language specific tocomputer structural features, methodological acts, and by computerreadable media, it is to be understood that the invention defined in theappended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures,acts, or media described. Therefore, the specific structural features,acts and mediums are disclosed as exemplary embodiments implementing theclaimed invention.

Furthermore, the various embodiments described above are provided by wayof illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention.Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modificationsand changes that may be made to the claimed invention without followingthe example embodiments and applications illustrated and describedherein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of theclaimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. An additional user interface incorporated into a gaming machine, thegaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, theadditional user interface comprising: a multimedia display screen,wherein the display screen presents web content data to a user via thedisplay screen; and an embedded processor that employs an internaloperating system and communicates with the gaming processor, and whereinthe embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the incoming datainto a web authoring protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to themultimedia display screen, wherein the data from the gaming processorand the two or more servers controls the multimedia display screen. 2.The additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the incoming datacomprises a serial communication message.
 3. The additional userinterface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor communicates withthe gaming processor over an I²C bus.
 4. The additional user interfaceof claim 1, wherein the multimedia display screen is a color graphictouch screen display.
 5. The additional user interface of claim 1,wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.
 6. Theadditional user interface of claim 1, wherein the internal operatingsystem is customized to match the specific hardware to which theinternal operating system attaches.
 7. The additional user interface ofclaim 1, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographictechnology.
 8. The additional user interface of claim 1, wherein theincoming data offers a certification process for authentication andnon-repudiation.
 9. The additional user interface of claim 1, whereinthe certification process provides auditability and traceability. 10.The additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the certificationprocess provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allowcasino operators to design their own content.
 11. The additional userinterface of claim 1, wherein the web authoring protocol is HTML. 12.The additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the web authoringprotocol is DHTML.
 13. The additional user interface of claim 1, whereinthe web authoring protocol is XML.
 14. The additional user interface ofclaim 1, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to anEthernet-networked backbone.
 15. The additional user interface of claim1, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web serverthrough an Ethernet-networked backbone.
 16. An additional user interfaceincorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including agaming presentation and gaming processor, the additional user interfacecomprising: a web content capable display having a plurality of screenregions, each screen region being controllable by data received fromcorresponding server within the plurality of servers which are connectedvia a network; a network connection capable of receiving data from theplurality of servers via the network; and a processor that executes aninternal operating system, communicates data with the gaming processor,communicates data with two or more of the plurality of servers, anddirects the data to and from two or more of the plurality of screenregions, wherein the data from the gaming processor and each of the twoor more servers controls each corresponding screen region.
 17. Theadditional user interface of claim 16, wherein the received dataincludes game data.
 18. The additional user interface of claim 17,wherein the game data is used to determine a bonus.
 19. The additionaluser interface of claim 18, wherein the game data includes collecteddata associated with all prior play on the gaming machine.
 20. Theadditional user interface of claim 18, wherein the game data includescollected data associated with all prior play by a player in a casino.21. The additional user interface of claim 18, wherein the game dataincludes collected data associated with all prior play in a casino. 22.The additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the received dataincludes collected local player session data.
 23. The additional userinterface of claim 22, wherein the local player session data is used todetermine a bonus.
 24. The additional user interface of claim 23,wherein the local player session data includes collected data regardinggames played by a player on the gaming machine.
 25. The additional userinterface of claim 16, wherein the received data includes collectedback-end casino data.
 26. The additional user interface of claim 25,wherein the back-end casino data is used to determine a bonus.
 27. Theadditional user interface of claim 26, wherein the game data includescollected data associated with all prior play on the gaming machine. 28.The additional user interface of claim 26, wherein the game dataincludes collected data associated with all prior play by a player in acasino.
 29. The additional user interface of claim 26, wherein the gamedata includes collected data associated with all prior play in a casino.30. The additional user interface of claim 26, wherein the back-endcasino data includes collected data regarding games played by a playerin a plurality of casinos.
 31. The additional user interface of claim26, wherein the back-end casino data includes collected data regardinggames played by a plurality of players in a plurality of casinos. 32.The additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the networkincorporates a peer-to-peer network.
 33. The additional user interfaceof claim 32, wherein the peer-to-peer network is used to send or requestdata from one gaming machine attached to the network to or from anothergaming machine attached to the network.
 34. The additional userinterface of claim 32, wherein the data includes update data thatupdates game software.
 35. The additional user interface of claim 16,wherein the web content capable display is a color graphic touch screendisplay.
 36. The additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the datais formatted in HTML protocol, DHTML protocol, or XML protocol.
 37. Theadditional user interface of claim 16, wherein the network connectionconnects the additional user interface to an Ethernet network.
 38. Theadditional user interface of claim 16, wherein the network connectionconnects the additional user interface to the Internet.
 39. Theadditional user interface of claim 16, wherein the data comprises afirst portion received from a first server of the plurality of servers,and a second portion received from a second server of the plurality ofservers.
 40. The additional user interface of claim 39, wherein a firstscreen region presents the first portion of data, and a second screenregion presents the second portion of data.
 41. The additional userinterface of claim 39, wherein each of the two or more portions of dataare presented by the embedded additional user interface according to apre-determined format.
 42. The additional user interface of claim 40,wherein the pre-determined format comprises one or more rules fordisplay of the first and second data portions.
 43. The additional userinterface of claim 16, wherein each screen region comprises an instanceof a browser.
 44. The additional user interface of claim 16, wherein thedata includes animated graphics data.
 45. The additional user interfaceof claim 16, wherein the data includes audio data for presentation on anaudio system provided by the additional user interface.
 46. Theadditional user interface of claim 16, wherein the data comprises audiodata for presentation on an audio system provided by the gaming machine.47. The additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the gamingmachine controls one or more of the screen regions.
 48. A method forproviding an enhanced presentation of information, the methodcomprising: providing an additional user interface to the gaming machinethat includes an additional processor and a multimedia display screen,wherein the additional user interface is connected to two or moreservers via a network; enabling communication between the user interfaceand the servers using the additional processor, receiving data to beprocessed from two or more of the plurality of servers, translating thedata from two or more of the plurality of servers into a web authoringprotocol, if necessary; and mapping the data to the display screen. 49.A gaming machine having a gaming presentation, the gaming machinecomprising: a multimedia display screen separate from the gamingpresentation, wherein the display screen is controllable by web pagedata received from a plurality of servers that are connected via anetwork; a network connection capable of receiving data from a pluralityof servers via the network; and a processor, wherein the processorexecutes an internal operating system for the multimedia display screen,communicates with the gaming processor, reads the data from two or moreof the plurality of servers, translates the data into a web authoringprotocol, if necessary, and directs the data to the display screen. 50.An additional user interface incorporated into a gaming machine, thegaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, theadditional user interface comprising: a multimedia display screen,wherein the display screen is controllable by data received from aplurality of servers that are connected via a network; a networkconnection capable of receiving data from the plurality of servers viathe network; and a processor that executes an internal operating system,queries the plurality of servers for data to be received, pulls the datato be received from the queried servers, translates the data into a webauthoring protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to the displayscreen.
 51. An additional user interface incorporated into a gamingmachine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gamingprocessor, the additional user interface comprising: a multimediadisplay screen, wherein the display screen is controllable by datareceived from a plurality of servers that are connected via a network; anetwork connection capable of receiving data from the plurality ofservers via the network; and a processor that executes an internaloperating system, receives data pushed by the plurality of servers tothe additional user interface, reads the data, translates the data intoa web authoring protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to the displayscreen.
 52. A method executed in an additional user interfaceincorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including agaming presentation and gaming processor, the method comprising:providing a multimedia display screen, wherein the display screen iscontrollable by data received from a plurality of servers that areconnected via a network; providing a network connection capable ofreceiving data from the plurality of servers via the network; andexecuting an internal operating system that queries two or more of theplurality of servers for data to be received, pulls the data to bereceived from the queried servers, translates the data into a webauthoring protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to the displayscreen.
 53. A method executed in an additional user interfaceincorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including agaming presentation and gaming processor, the additional user interfacecomprising: providing a multimedia display screen, wherein the displayscreen is controllable by data received from a plurality of servers thatare connected via a network; providing a network connection capable ofreceiving data from the plurality of servers via the network; andexecuting an internal operating system that receives data pushed by theplurality of servers to the additional user interface, reads the data,translates the data into a web authoring protocol, if necessary, andmaps the data to the display screen.